NJCounts 2015

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Tuesday, January 27, 2015.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

Support Needed Now to Insure Adeqaute Funding in 2009 for McKinney-Vento

byRichard W. Brown7 years ago

Monarch Housing and CSH strongly urges you to contact your member of Congress AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to request he/she sign on to the attached letter being circulated by Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) supporting $2 billion in funding for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program.

Background:

The President’s budget requested $1.636 billion for McKinney-Vento – an increase of $50 million over last year. Unfortunately, the budget request of $1.636 million is insufficient to meet emergency needs and fails to build on long-term solutions.

Research and data over the last several years have informed policymakers and service providers of techniques that can be successful in reducing homelessness. Thanks to the excellent work advocates from around the country have done in contacting their representatives in Washington, Congress has provided increased funding in recent years that has helped thousands of people move out of homelessness and into permanent housing. These investments have saved millions of dollars in public funds for emergency and institutional care, while dramatically improving the recovery and self-sufficiency of those served by these programs. Despite our best efforts, unmet needs persist. Members of Congress need to hear from advocates urging them to sign this letter to appropriators calling for more McKinney-Vento funds.

Action:

If you do not know your Congressperson’s telephone number in Washington, you may call 202/224-3121 and ask to be connected. When you call, ask to speak to the staff person who handles housing issues and urge him/her to have the Congressperson sign the bipartisan Waters/Davis letter on funding for McKinney-Vento homelessness programs. The deadline for this letter is MARCH 12. Because it may take Congressional staff a few days to get approval of a letter, it is important you make the call as soon as possible! Leave your contact information and ask him/her to let you know if the Congressperson will sign the letter.

If you leave a voicemail, it is a good idea to follow-up with an email. House staff email is [email protected]

Also, please feel free to contact us or Jordan Press in CSH’s DC office at if you have any questions about the letter.

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Richard W. Brown, has more than forty-two years experience in both housing development and community organizing. Since 1991 Mr. Brown has been the Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Housing Associates, the 1995 Governor’s Excellence in Housing Award winner in the organization category.. To read more about Richard and all of our staff click here. Click here to send Mr. Brown an email.

Monarch Housing shares my view that permanent housing makes such a wonderful difference in the lives of persons. I know this to be true because I was homeless years ago, and having permanent housing gave me self-dignity.

Valerie Fox, Advocate

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